Meter display device for vehicle

• US 9,715,828 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2015
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kawasaki Motors Ltd (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Kawasaki Heavy Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Matsumura, Norikazu
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang, Jack K
• Application Number:
  US14/805,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20160093209A1
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 340441
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/191 Highlight information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/332 Light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/341 Illumination of dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2360/695 Dial features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/154 Combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/188 Displaying information using colour changes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/191 Highlight information
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/193 for improving awareness
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/33 Illumination features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/332 Light emitting diodes
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/341 Illumination of dials
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2370/695 Dial features
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/215 characterised by the combination of multiple visual outputs, e.g. combined instruments with analogue meters and additional displays
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/28 characterised by the type of the output information, e.g. video entertainment or vehicle dynamics information; characterised by the purpose of the output information, e.g. for attracting the attention of the driver
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/29 Instruments characterised by the way in which information is handled, e.g. showing information on plural displays or prioritising information according to driving conditions
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 35/60 Instruments characterised by their location or relative disposition in or on vehicles arrangements of lighting devices on dashboards B60Q3/10
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 13/28 with luminescent markings
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/002 giving both analog and numerical indication
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 7/08 : using a common indicating element for two or more variables
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/0962 : having an indicator mounted inside the vehicle, e.g. giving voice messages
• CPC Class Codes: G12B 11/02 : Scales; Dials
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 : Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations

Abstract

The invention provides a meter display device for a vehicle having improved visibility of indicated contents. A meter display device includes a pointer having a pointer position changed by shifting in a predetermined array direction in accordance with a continuously changing vehicle state to indicate the vehicle state, a dial having a plurality of numeral indicating portions configured to indicate the vehicle state at different levels, aligned at intervals in the array direction, and individually change lighting modes, and a controller configured to change the lighting modes of the plurality of numeral indicating portions in accordance with the vehicle state.

Claims

1. A meter display device for a vehicle, the meter display device comprising:

a pointer body having a pointer position changed by shifting in a predetermined array direction in accordance with a continuously changing vehicle state to indicate the vehicle state;

a display plate having a plurality of index portions configured to indicate the vehicle state at different levels, the plurality of index portions being aligned at intervals in the array direction, and the plurality of index portions being configured to individually change lighting modes; and

a controller configured to change the lighting modes of the plurality of index portions individually in accordance with a shift of the vehicle state while the vehicle is traveling,

wherein the controller brings the lighting modes of the plurality of index portions into a first lighting mode,

under the first lighting mode, the plurality of index portions are changed in synchronism with the shift of the pointer body so as to represent the shift of the vehicle state indicated by the shift of the pointer body, and

when a predetermined condition while the vehicle is traveling is satisfied, the controller brings the lighting modes of the plurality of index portions into a second lighting mode which is different from the first lighting mode.

2. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the plurality of index portions has index values indicating the vehicle state, and

the controller differentiates a lighting mode of an index value group including a corresponding index value to the shift of the vehicle state while the vehicle is traveling and aligned on a first side in the array direction with respect to the corresponding index value and a lighting mode of an index value group aligned on a second side in the array direction with respect to the corresponding index value.

3. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the controller differentiates a lighting mode of a corresponding index portion to the shift of the vehicle state while the vehicle is traveling and the lighting modes of the index portions other than the corresponding index portion.

4. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

when the predetermined condition while the vehicle is traveling is satisfied, the controller brings the lighting modes of the plurality of index portions into lighting modes different from lighting modes of the plurality of index portions before the condition is satisfied.

5. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

upon providing a set value in response to a setting command due to a driver, the controller changes the lighting modes of the index portions corresponding to the set value.

6. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 5, wherein

the set value relates to the shift of the vehicle state while the vehicle is traveling, and the controller brings the lighting modes of the index portions corresponding to the set value into the same lighting modes as lighting modes of the index portions while the vehicle is traveling when the set value is provided in response to the setting command due to a driver.

7. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the vehicle state relates to rotational speed of a driving source,

the pointer body has a rotation center and is angularly displaced about the rotation center in accordance with the rotational speed,

the array direction is equal to a circumferential direction around the rotation center,

the plurality of index portions consists of numeral indicating portions aligned in the array direction, and

the numeral indicating portions correspond to the pointer position indicating the rotational speed, and upon being turned off, the numeral indicating portions take on the same color as a surface of a dial.

9. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the controller brings the index portions corresponding to the shift of the vehicle state while the vehicle is traveling into a lighting mode, and changes the lighting modes of the index portions corresponding to the shift of the vehicle state while the vehicle is traveling, when the vehicle state reaches a predetermined set value.

10. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 9, wherein

the controller blinks the index portions corresponding to the shift of the vehicle state while the vehicle is traveling, when the vehicle state reaches the predetermined set value.

11. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 9, wherein

the predetermined set value represents a condition which is temporarily occurs while the vehicle is traveling.

12. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 11, wherein

the predetermined set value represents at least one of a case where engine rotational speed reaches shift-up rotational speed, a case of satisfying temporal conditions, a case of satisfying a special condition that occurs temporarily while the vehicle is traveling, and a case of satisfying states of trouble or disorder.

13. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the meter display device is provided on a motorcycle.

14. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

under the first lighting mode, the plurality of index portions represents rotational speed of an engine.

15. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

under the first lighting mode, the plurality of index portions represents rotational speed of an engine, and

the predetermined condition is a case where engine rotational speed reaches shift-up rotational speed.

16. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

under the first lighting mode, the plurality of index portions represents rotational speed of an engine, and

the predetermined condition is at least one of (i) a case of satisfying temporal conditions, (ii) a case of indicating a beginning, an end, or a continuation of a special condition that occurs temporarily while the vehicle is traveling, and (iii) a case of satisfying a state of trouble or disorder.

17. The meter display device for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

under the first lighting mode, the plurality of index portions turn on a light without blinking, and

under the second lighting mode, the plurality of index portions which turn on under the first lighting mode blink or change in color or brightness.

8. A meter display device for a vehicle, the meter display device comprising:

a pointer body having a pointer position changed by shifting in a predetermined array direction in accordance with a continuously changing vehicle state to indicate the vehicle state; and

a display plate having a plurality of index portions configured to indicate the vehicle state at different levels, the plurality of index portions being aligned at intervals in the array direction, and the plurality of index portions being configured to individually change lighting modes,

wherein the plurality of index portion include numeral indicating portions aligned in the array direction, and upon being turned off, the numeral indicating portions take on the same color as a surface of a dial,

wherein the plurality of index portions turn on according to a first lighting mode,

under the first lighting mode, the plurality of index portions are changed in synchronism with the shift of the pointer body so as to represent the shift of the vehicle state indicated by the shift of the pointer body, and

when a predetermined condition while the vehicle is traveling is satisfied, the controller brings the lighting modes of the plurality of index portions into a second lighting mode which is different from the first lighting mode.

18. A meter display device for a vehicle, the meter display device comprising:

a pointer body having a pointer position changed by shifting in a predetermined array direction in accordance with a continuously changing vehicle state to indicate the vehicle state;

a display plate having a plurality of numeral index portions configured to indicate the vehicle state at different levels, the plurality of numeral index portions being aligned at intervals in the array direction, and the plurality of numeral index portions being configured to individually change lighting modes; and

a controller configured to change the lighting modes of the plurality of numeral index portions in accordance with a shift of the vehicle state while the vehicle is traveling,

wherein when the vehicle state reaches a predetermined set value representing a case where engine rotational speed reaches shift-up rotational speed, the controller changes the lighting modes of the plurality of numeral index values corresponding to the shift of the vehicle state while the vehicle is traveling.